Gary Caldwell knows Scotland’s World Cup dream is on a life-support machine – but the Wigan defender is not ready to switch it off just yet.

He knows, however, that anything less than three points in Belgium tomorrow night will see their ­flickering hopes of making Brazil finally flatline.

And the fall-out from that failure will almost certainly cost Craig Levein his job. Caldwell wants none of that to happen. He might not wear the armband when Darren Fletcher or Kenny Miller are around but the former Hibs and Celtic defender has become the manager’s on-field lieutenant and is fiercely loyal to the national team boss.

“Of course, we believe that can be done. Otherwise there would be no point in us going over there.

“We have to believe – each and every one of us – and go there to play well, get the breaks and win the game. If we do that then we are probably still in the group.”

Caldwell remains convinced Levein is the man to continue leading the Scots and points to the many positive aspects of the display against the Welsh as proof that the squad is giving their all for the manager.

“Of course we believe in him,” he said. “You could see that against Wales. We dominated the game and looked comfortable. We should have gone 2-0 up but sometimes in life you don’t get breaks. We just have to get on with it.”

He believes the breaks he talked about have not gone Scotland’s way in this campaign, citing Steven Fletcher’s disallowed goal on Friday night as evidence. The reinstated striker’s header was chalked off after Charlie Adam’s cross was deemed to have curled out of play but TV pictures showed the officials got it wrong.

He said: “It’s game over if we go 2-0 up. Sometimes those are the breaks you need in football and when you don’t get them it comes back to hurt you.

“We were in front and controlling the game. We didn’t really feel like they were putting us under a lot of pressure. But Gareth Bale was obviously a threat and he made the difference in the end.

“They got back into the game with the penalty and it was one of those I have seen given before. Shaun did seem to clip his heel. They had a breakaway from our corner in the second half and a header in the first half but we felt very comfortable.

“We are all trying. There is no one in there who is not giving their all. There is nothing else we can do. We are giving everything that we can. But whether it be a break, a bit of luck or a bit of quality, we just haven’t had it. We need to find it quickly.

Braveheart: Gary Caldwell of Scotland lines up for the National Anthems prior to the FIFA 2014 World Cup Group A Qualifier between Wales and Scotland (Photo: Mike Hewitt)

“We’ll look at what happened, try to learn from it and come back stronger on Tuesday.”

Caldwell reckons there are positives to be taken from the chances created in Cardiff and the manner in which the wide men, Shaun Maloney and Kris Commons, created opportunities for Fletcher and James Morrison, who looked much more dangerous playing off the striker than he has done in the deeper role given to him previously.

The centre-back added: “I thought Shaun played very well and worked his socks off. Kris and Fletch were a threat.

“We had a few chances. James Morrison scored a goal and had another opportunity. We were looking comfortable but then we concede two goals from nowhere and we lose the game.

“We have to take it on the chin again. There is nothing else you can do in football. You have to roll your sleeves up and go again.”

He knows the Belgians are flying and have at their disposal some of the most talented players in Europe right now but backs his team-mates to handle whatever comes their way tomorrow night.

He said: “They have a lot of threats from all over the park. Defensively, we are really going to have to be at it.

“But we showed a bit of a threat up front against Wales and have other guys who can come in to the side there. Hopefully, we can be a threat as well.”